Method and system for incrementally changing window size on a display

ABSTRACT

A window displayed on a user interface can be incrementally enlarged or reduced by selecting an appropriate sizing icon. There are provided an enlarge icon and a reduce icon in the window title bar. To resize the window, the user selects the appropriate icon with the cursor. The window will change its border size according to a predetermined incremental value. The data that is displayed inside of the newly sized window is determined and then displayed. By continuously selecting one of the sizing icons, the window will be continuously sized in an incremental manner until the user terminates the selection or until the maximum or minimum window limits are reached. As the window is resized, the cursor remains attached to the selected icon. During resizing of the window, one border corner is fixed in position on the interface while the opposite border corner is moved.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods and systems for changing thesize of windows presented on a computer display.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Windows are graphical interface components that present objects andactions to computer operators. Windows are presented to operators by wayof a computer display or screen. A window in effect allows a user oroperator to see an image of an application that has been constructed bythe computer.

One advantage of using windows is that plural applications programs aswell as plural files can be accessed and used at the same time. Eachfile and each program runs in its own window. The screen may thuscontain plural windows.

The user can adjust the size of the individual windows to see eithermore or less of their contents. For example, a window can be expanded tomaximum size, wherein the window fills the entire display screen.Alternatively, a window can be sized smaller than the display screen soas to permit the viewing of two or more windows.

In the prior art, the size of a window is adjusted in one of two ways.To adjust the size to a maximum (so as to fill the entire screen) or toa minimum (so the window becomes an icon) maximize and minimize iconsare provided on the window. The user selects the appropriate icon withthe cursor and then requests action. To adjust the size of the window tosizes between maximum and minimum, the user must locate the cursor on aborder of the window, request a sizing action to occur and then move thecursor to the selected location while dragging the border along. Thisdrag method of adjusting window size is not very user friendly, becausethere is no icon for incremental sizing. In addition, the drag method issomewhat clumsy for a user to implement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a methodand system for incrementally sizing a window on a display.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method andsystem for incrementally sizing a window on a display, which methodutilizes sizing icons.

The system and method of the present invention is for incrementallyadjusting of the size of a window in a user interface with a dataprocessing system. The window is displayed on the interface, with thewindow having data located therein. An enlarge icon and a reduce iconare displayed on the interface. A user input for changing the size ofthe window is detected. The input comprises a selection of either theenlarge icon or the reduce icon. A new window size is determinedaccording to a predetermined incremental value so as to form a newwindow. The new data that is to be located in the new window isdetermined. The new window and the new data located therein is thendisplayed on the interface.

In one aspect of the method of the present invention, the window hasplural border segments around the perimeter of the window. The step offorming the new window occurs by holding at least one border segmentfixed in position on the interface while the remaining border segmentsmove relative to the fixed border segment. In another aspect, if theborder segment of the new window reaches a limit on the interface, thenthe fixed border segment of the new window is repositioned so that thenew window can be viewed in its entirety on the interface.

In still another aspect, the user input is performed by locating aninterface cursor on a selected one of the enlarge or reduce icons. Thecursor is attached to the selected icon in the new window, wherein thecursor is automatically repositioned on the selected icon as the windowchanges size.

In still another aspect, the user is allowed to select the predeterminedincremental value.

In another aspect, the method displays the window on the interface, withthe window having data located therein. A user input for changing thesize of the window is detected. A new window size according to apredetermined incremental value is determined so as to form a newwindow. New data that is to be located in the new window is determined.The new window and the new data located therein is then displayed on theinterface. Then, it is determined if the user input is continuous,wherein if the user input is continuous then the window is sized againin accordance with the predetermined incremental value and displayed onthe interface. This allows the user to continuously increment the sizeof the window to a desired size.

In another aspect of the present invention, the method displays thewindow on the interface, the window having data located therein. Anenlarge icon and a reduce icon are also displayed on the interface. Auser input for changing the size of the window is detected. The inputincludes a selection of either the enlarge icon or the reduce icon by acursor on the interface. A new window size is determined according to apredetermined incremental value so as to form a new window. The newwindow has newly positioned enlarge and reduce icons. New data that isto be located in the new window is determined. The cursor is attached tothe selected and newly positioned icon. The new window and the new datalocated therein are displayed on the interface.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the method displays the windowon the interface, with the window having data located therein. Anenlarge icon and a reduce icon are also displayed on the interface. Auser input for changing the size of the window is detected. The inputincludes a first selection of the enlarge icon to incrementally enlargethe window, a second selection of the enlarge icon to enlarge the windowto a predetermined maximum size, a first selection of the reduce icon toincrementally reduce the window and a second selection of the reduceicon to reduce the window to a predetermined minimum size. If the inputincludes one of the first selections of the enlarge or reduce icons,then a new window size is determined according to a predeterminedincremental value so as to form a new window. If the input includes oneof the second selections of the enlarge or reduce icons, then a newwindow size is determined according to the respective predeterminedmaximum or minimum sizes. New data, if any, is determined to be locatedin the new window. The new window of the new data located therein aredisplayed on the interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a computer display screen, showing awindow located thereon.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the screen of FIG. 1 after the window hasbeen incrementally enlarged using the method of the present invention inaccordance with a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the screen of FIG. 1 after the window hasbeen incrementally reduced in size using the method of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the screen of FIG. 3 showing schematicallythe reduction of the window to an icon

FIGS. 5-9 are flow charts of the method of the present invention. FIG. 5is a flow chart that describes how a window is initially constructed onthe display. FIG. 6 is a flow chart that describes how user inputs aremonitored and acted upon. FIG. 7 is a flow chart that describes thesubroutine for incrementally increasing window size. FIG. 8 is a flowchart that describes the subroutine for adjusting the size of thewindows and determining the data that is to be displayed in the newlysized window. FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the subroutine for incrementallydecreasing the size of the window.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a portion of the screen, showing a windowfor use in customizing the size of the increments used in the method ofthe present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of the customizing subroutine.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a data processing system inaccordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic representation of a computerdisplay screen 11 or CRT monitor. Displayed on the screen 11 is a window13. The window has a title bar 15, an action bar 17 and a client area19. The title bar 15 contains, among other things, the window title 21and the window sizing icons. There are a reduce icon 23 and an enlargeicon 25. The action bar 17, located just below the title bar 15,contains the actions supported by the application. The client area 19displays the graphical image constructed by the application programrunning in the window. The particular application shown in FIGS. 1-4 isa conventional spreadsheet and is shown only for illustrative purposes.The window has a border 27 around its perimeter. The screen also shows acursor in the form of a mouse pointer 29.

To increase the size of the window 13, the mouse pointer 29 is moved tothe enlarge icon 25. The operator then selects the icon, wherein thewindow 13A enlarges slightly, as shown in FIG. 2. If a mouse is beingused by the operator, the selection of the icon is performed by clickingonce the appropriate mouse button (typically mouse button 1). The windowis incrementally enlarged on the screen by moving the borders 27. Theenlarged window 13A displays more of the image of the application in thewindow. In particular, the window has been enlarged to display a portionof column H and also row 9 of the application program. (In FIGS. 2 and3, the incremental changes are exaggerated for illustrative purposes.)

As the window is enlarged, one corner is fixed in position on thescreen, at least until the window borders abut against the edges of thescreen. In the preferred embodiment, the upper left-hand corner 27A isfixed. Thus, the right and bottom borders 27B, 27C move when the windowis enlarged.

To decrease the size of the window 13, the mouse pointer 29 is moved tothe reduce icon 23. The operator then selects that icon and the window13B is incrementally reduced from its size in FIG. 1 (see FIG. 3). (Asused herein, the term "increment" encompasses both enlargement bypositive incrementation and reduction by negative incrementation.) Thereduced window displays less of the image of the application program. Inparticular, the window has been reduced to display only columns A-E androws 1-4. Columns F and G and rows 5-8 have been eliminated from thescreen.

As the window is reduced, one corner is fixed in position on the screen.In the preferred embodiment, the lower left-hand corner 27D is fixed.Thus, the upper and right borders 27E, 27B are moved as the window isreduced.

The mouse pointer 29 remains attached to the respective sizing icon asthe window changes size. As the window is enlarged, the mouse pointer 29remains attached to the enlarge icon 25. Likewise, as the window isreduced, the mouse pointer 29 remains attached to the reduce icon 23.This aspect is useful whenever the user performs multiple increments onthe window size. The user need not reposition the pointer after eachincremental change in window size. To achieve multiple increments, theuser locates the pointer 29 on the appropriate icon and then presses andholds the appropriate mouse button. The window will expand or contractfor as long as the button is held down.

The window can be expanded to fill the entire screen by positioning theprinter 29 on the enlarge icon 25 and then "double-clicking" the mousebutton. Conversely, the window can be reduced to an icon 31, as shown inFIG. 4, by positioning the pointer 29 on the reduce icon 23 and thendouble-clicking the mouse button.

In FIG. 12, there is shown a data processing system. The system has aprocessor 1, which itself has a central processor unit 2 and memory 3,such as RAM and/or ROM, located therein. Peripheral devices areconnected to the processor. A display unit 4, containing the displayscreen 11, is connected to the processor 1. Input devices, in the formof a keyboard 5 and mouse 6, are also connected to the processor 1.Memory devices, in the form of hard disk storage 7 and a floppy diskdevice 8, are connected to the processor. The floppy disk devicereceives a floppy disk 9, which is a computer readable medium. Thefloppy disk 9 has computer program logic recorded thereon, which logicincrementally adjusts the size of the window on the display screen 11.There is also provided a printer 10 connected with the processor 1.

The method of incrementally changing window size will now be describedwith reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 5-9. In the flow charts, thefollowing graphical conventions are observed: a diamond for a test ordecision, a rectangle for a process or function and a circle for aconnector in exiting to or entering from another part of the flow chart.These conventions are well understood by programmers skilled in the art,and the flow charts are sufficient to enable a programmer skilled in theart to write code in any suitable computer programming language, such asBASIC, PASCAL or C for a computer such as the IBM Personal System/ 2(PS/2) family of computers which supports these languages.

Referring to FIG. 5, the computer is, in step 33, started andinitialized. Then, the particular application program is selected by theuser, step 35. This could typically involve the user positioning themouse pointer on an icon or some other representation on the screen andthen selecting that icon or representation. The application program andaddressing pointers are loaded from storage, such as a hard disk, intoRAM, step 37. The RAM storage is opened to receive the program andpointers.

The computer then constructs the window frame in memory, step 39. Theouter borders are constructed, together with any icons that are usedinside of the window. Next, the data which is to be located inside ofthe window is obtained and placed in memory, step 41. This step includesobtaining column and row headings, any graphics that are utilized andthe numeric and alphabetic data. At this point, the data that isobtained may contain data that will not be displayed on the screenbecause it falls outside of the window border 27. The page image of thewindow is constructed and loaded into the display buffer, step 43,wherein the window is painted or displayed on the screen 11. The datafor the window is loaded in step 45 into memory. In step 45, the datawhich is to be displayed in the window is selected. For example in FIG.1, the data includes columns A-G and rows 1-8. Next, the pointer isfetched, step 47. This is the visual image of the mouse pointer 29. Thedata page and pointer are then displayed, step 49, in the window on thescreen as shown in FIG. 1. The window 13 is now constructed and openedon the screen 11. The user may proceed to utilize the applicationprogram in the window.

After the window and its contents have been displayed or painted ontothe screen, the user input is monitored, step 51, (see FIG. 6) for acommand to change the window size. When an input is received, the methoddetermines if the input is to make the window bigger, step 53. If theresult of step 53 is YES, make the window bigger, then the next step isto proceed with the increase window size subroutine 55, shown in FIG. 7.The user provides a make window bigger input by positioning the mousepointer 29 on the enlarge icon 25 and selecting that icon with a singleclick. After the increase window size subroutine 55 has been completed,the method returns to step 51 to monitor the user input. If the resultof step 53 is NO, then the next determination is made, step 57, whereinit is determined if the input is to maximize the window size. If theresult of step 57 is YES, then the next step 59 is to proceed with aconventional subroutine 59 for maximizing the window. The window size ismaximized to fill the screen. After the window size has been maximized,the method returns to step 51 to monitor the user input.

If the result of step 57 is NO, then the next determination is made,step 61, to determine if the window should be made smaller. If theresult of step 61 is YES, then the next step is to proceed with thereduce window size subroutine 63, shown in FIG. 9. The user provides amake window smaller input by positioning the mouse pointer 29 on thereduce icon 23 and selecting that icon with a single click. After thereduce window size subroutine 63 has been completed, the method returnsto step 51 to monitor the user input. If the result of step 61 is NO,then the method proceeds to step 65 where it is determined if the windowsize should be minimized. If the result of step 65 is YES, minimize thewindow, then the method proceeds to step 67, which is a conventionalsubroutine for minimizing the window to an icon. After the window hasbeen reduced to an icon 31, as shown in FIG. 4, then the method returnsto step 51 to monitor the user input.

If the result of step 65 is NO, the method proceeds to step 69 todetermine if the increment size is to be customized. If the result ofstep 69 is YES, customize the increment size, the method proceeds tostep 71, which is a subroutine for allowing the user to interactivelyselect the increment size. One way to provide a customize input is toutilize a customize selection in a pull-down menu. After the customizesubroutine 71 is performed, the method returns to step 51 to monitor theuser input.

If the result of step 69 is NO, then the method proceeds to step 73. Instep 73, the appropriate function corresponding to the user input isperformed. This would be a user input that is not related to changingthe size of the window After step 73, the method returns to step 51 tomonitor the user input.

Referring to FIG. 7, the increase window size subroutine 55 will now bedescribed. This subroutine 55 is performed if the result of step 53 inFIG. 6 is YES. The first step 75 is to fetch the window increment sizeand the display size. Unless the window increment size is set by theuser in the customize subroutine 71, which will be described in moredetail hereinafter, a default value is used. Next, in step 77, thescreen coordinates of the upper left-hand corner 27A of the window aredetermined. These are x-y coordinates that are stored in memory. Theupper left-hand corner 27A serves as a fixed point during theincremental expansion of the window.

The method then proceeds to a size subroutine 79, which is utilized byboth the increase window size subroutine 53 and the reduce window sizesubroutine 63. The size subroutine (see FIG. 8) computes the new windowsize, and also determines the data that is to be displayed in the newlysized window.

The first step 81 of the size subroutine 79 is to fetch the pointerimage. This step 81 fetches the coordinates of the mouse pointer 29 onthe display screen 11. Next, in step 83, the new window size iscomputed. If the window is being enlarged, the new window size iscomputed by adding the increment value (or values) to the vertical andhorizontal dimensions. If the window is being reduced, the incrementvalue (or values) is subtracted from the vertical and horizontaldimensions to compute the new window size. The sizes of the title bar 15and the action bar 17 are adjusted accordingly. Also, the sizing icons23, 25 are repositioned accordingly. In step 85, the data for the newwindow size is determined. The data is that portion of the applicationprogram that will be visible inside of the new window. For example, ifthe window is being enlarged as shown in FIG. 2, the data now includes aportion of column H and row 9.

Next, in step 87, the method determines if the display limits have beenreached. As the window is enlarged, the upper left hand corner is fixed,while the right border and bottom border 27B, 27C are moved. If eitherthe right or bottom borders reach the edge of the screen 11, then YESthe display limits have been reached and the method proceeds to step 89to reposition the upper left hand corner 27A of the window. This is toallow the window to fill the entire screen. In step 89, the newcoordinates for the upper left hand corner are determined. After the newcoordinates have been determined, the overlay buffer is fetched, step91. If the result of step 87 is NO, the method bypasses step 89 andproceeds directly to step 91. In step 91, a portion of memory is set upfor the construction of the newly sized window. In step 93, the newwindow frame is written into the overlay buffer. Next, the data for thenew window is fetched, step 95. This is the data that has beendetermined in step 85. In step 97, the data fetched in step 95 iswritten into the overlay buffer. The method than returns, step 99, tothe calling subroutine, which in the case of enlarging the window issubroutine 55.

Upon returning to the increase window size subroutine 55, FIG. 7, thenext step 101 attaches the pointer 29 to the increment or enlarge icon25 of the newly sized window 13A. This provides dynamic pointerpositioning so that as the window enlarges, the pointer 29 remainspositioned on the enlarge icon 25. Thus, the user need not have to trackthe movement of the enlarge icon with the mouse pointer during expansionof the window; tracking is done automatically by the method of thepresent invention. Next, the overlay buffer is written to the displaybuffer, step 103. In step 105, the updated window is redisplayed ontothe screen 11 as the newly sized window 13A, as shown in FIG. 2. Thus,the user sees the screen change from the window 13 shown in FIG. 1 tothe window 13A shown in FIG. 2.

Because a single incremental increase may be insufficient to the user,the method monitors the input to determine if a continuous increment isbeing called for, step 107. The user provides a continuous incrementinput by pressing and holding the appropriate mouse button. Thecontinuous increment is where the dynamic positioning and tracking ofthe pointer on the appropriate sizing icon is very helpful to the user.

If, YES, a continuous increment is being called for, then the methodproceeds to step 109, where it is determined if the maximum size hasalready been reached. If the window does not yet fill the entire screen,then NO, the maximum size has not been reached, and the window can stillbe enlarged. The method returns to the size subroutine 79, wherein thewindow is increased by another incremental value. If, in step 107 thereis NO continuous increment input, or in step 109 the maximum size hasbeen reached, then the method terminates the increase window sizesubroutine 55 and returns 111 to monitor the user input, step 51 (seeFIG. 6).

Referring to FIG. 9, the reduce window size subroutine 63 will now bedescribed. This subroutine 63 is similar to the increase window sizesubroutine 55, except that the window is reduced instead of beingenlarged. The first step 113 is to fetch the window decrement size anddisplay size. Next, the coordinates of the lower left-hand corner 27D ofthe window are determined, step 115. The lower left-hand corner servesas a fixed point during the incremental reduction of the window. Then,the method proceeds to the size subroutine 79 to compute the new windowsize and determine the data to be displayed in the newly sized window,as described hereinabove.

After the size subroutine 79, the next step 117 attaches the mousepointer 29 to the decrement or reduce icon 23 in the overlay buffer. Instep 119, the overlay buffer is written to the displayed buffer. In step121, the updated, or reduced, window is displayed on the screen 11.Thus, the user sees the screen change from the window 13 shown in FIG. 1to the window 13B shown in FIG. 3.

In step 123, the method checks to see if the user is inputting acontinuous decrement. If YES, then the method proceeds to step 125,which determines if the minimum size has been reached. If, in step 125,NO, the minimum size has not been reached, then the method returns tothe size subroutine 79, wherein the window is reduced by anotherdecremental value. If, in step 123 there is NO continuous decrement, orin step 125 the minimum size has been reached, then the methodterminates the subroutine 63 and returns 127 to monitor the user input,step 51 (see FIG. 6).

In some instances, it is desirable to allow the user to select theincremental sizing values to meet individual needs. The method providesfor dynamic selection, so that the user can see on the screen theresults of his choice of incremental values.

When the user selects the customize feature a pop-up window or dialogbox 131, with the title "INCREMENTS", is displayed on the screen, asshown in FIG. 10. A miniature version of the current window 133 is showninside of the client area of the increments window 131, along with pushbuttons 135 and prompts 137. The user inputs the vertical and horizontalincrements, wherein the method updates the miniature window 133 inaccordance with the newly input incremental values. This allows the userto see on the screen the effect of his choice. If the user isdissatisfied with the result, new incremental values can be input, withthe method resizing the window 133 according to the newly input values.

Referring now to the flow chart shown in FIG. 11, the customizesubroutine 71 will now be described. As discussed above, one way toenter the customize subroutine 71 is to utilize a customize selection ina pull-down menu. In step 139, the vertical and horizontal windowincrements are fetched. Then, in step 141, the window frame for theincrements pop-up window 131 is constructed. The miniature version 133of the current window is also constructed, step 143. In step 145, avisual image of the increment values for the miniature window 133 isconstructed. There is a vertical increment visual image 147 and ahorizontal increment visual image 149, as shown in FIG. 10. These imagesdisplay the increment size both numerically, in pels, and graphicallyusing dimension lines. Also, the visual image of the push buttons 135and the prompts 137 are constructed. In step 151, the increments pop-upwindow frame 131, the miniature window 133 and the visualized increments147, 149 are written to the overlay buffer. In addition, the pushbuttons 135 and the prompts 137 are also written to the overlay buffer.The overlay buffer is then written to the display buffer, step 153.Then, the updated screen is redisplayed, step 155.

Next, user inputs into the prompts 137 are monitored, step 157. When aninput is received, it is evaluated to see if the increment values havebeen changed, step 159. If YES, then the method proceeds to step 139,where the newly input increment values are fetched. Steps 141 through155 are repeated, wherein the miniature window 133 is changed in size inaccordance with the newly input incremental values and the visual images147, 149 are updated. If the result in step 159 is NO, the incrementsare not to be changed, then other appropriate actions corresponding tothe input are performed, step 161. The method then returns 163 to step51 to monitor user input.

The foregoing disclosure and the drawings made in the drawings aremerely illustrative of the principles of this invention and are not tobe interpreted in a limiting sense.

We claim:
 1. A method for incrementally adjusting the size of a windowin a user interface with a data processing system, comprising the stepsof:a) displaying said window on said interface, said window having datalocated therein; b) displaying on said interface an enlarge icon and areduce icon; c) detecting a user input for changing the size of saidwindow, said input comprising a first selection of said enlarge icon, asecond selection of said enlarge icon, a first selection of said reduceicon and a second selection of said reduce icon; interface; d)identifying said detected user input as being one of said first orsecond selections of said enlarge icon or said first or secondselections of said reduce icon; e) determining a new window sizeaccording to said detected and identified user input by respectivelyenlarging or reducing said new window size, according to a predeterminedincremental value if said first selection of said enlarge icon or saidfirst selection of said reduce icon is respectively detected, or byenlarging or reducing said new window size according to a respectivepredetermined maximum or minimum size if said second selection of saidenlarge icon or said second selection said reduce icon is respectivelyselected; f) determining new data that is to be located in said newwindow; g) displaying said new window and said new data located thereinon said interface.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said window hasplural border segments around a perimeter of said window, said step offorming said new window occurring by holding at least one border segmentfixed in position on said interface while the remaining border segmentsmove relative to said fixed border segment.
 3. The method of claim 2further comprising the step of determining if a border segment of saidnew window reaches a limit on said interface, wherein if said limit isreached, repositioning said fixed border segment of said new window sothat said new window can be viewed in its entirety on said interface. 4.The method of claim 1 wherein said user input is performed by locatingan interface cursor on a selected one of said enlarge or reduce icons,further comprising the step of attaching said cursor to said selectedicon in said new window, wherein said cursor is automaticallyrepositioned on said selected icon as said window changes size.
 5. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising the steps of allowing said user toselect predetermined incremental value.
 6. A method for incrementallyadjusting the size of a window in a user interface with a dataprocessing system, comprising the steps of:a) displaying said window onsaid interface, said window having data located therein; b) displayingon said interface an enlarge icon and a reduce icon; c) detecting a userinput for changing the size of said window, said input comprising aselection of either said enlarge icon or said reduce icon; interface; d)determining a new window size according to a predetermined incrementalvalue so as to form a new window, said new window size being inaccordance with said user input, said incremental value beingpredetermined such that said new window size undergoes plural incrementsof said incremental value to obtain a predetermined maximum size or apredetermined minimum size; e) determining new data that is to belocated in said new window; f) displaying said new window and said newdata located therein on said interface; g) determining if said userinput is continuous, wherein if said user input is continuous thenrepeating steps d) - f) until said user input terminates or until saidnew window reaches said predetermined maximum size or said predeterminedmaximum size.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein said window has pluralborder segments around a perimeter of said window, said step of formingsaid new window occurring by holding at least one border segment fixedin position on said interface while the remaining border segments moverelative to said fixed border segment.
 8. The method of claim 7 furthercomprising the step of determining if a border segment of said newwindow reaches a limit on said interface, wherein if said limit isreached, repositioning said fixed border segment of said new window sothat said new window can be viewed in its entirety on said interface. 9.The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:a) determining ifsaid user requests to provide said incremental value; b) displaying asizing window on interface; c) detecting an incremental value input fromsaid user; d) determining a new sizing window size according to saidincremental value input so as to form a new sizing window; e) displayingsaid new sizing window on said interface.
 10. A method for incrementallyadjusting the size of a window in a user interface with a dataprocessing system, comprising the steps of:a) displaying said window onsaid interface, said window having data located therein; b) displayingon said interface an enlarge icon and a reduce icon; c) detecting a userinput for changing the size of said window, said input comprising aselection of either said enlarge icon or said reduce icon by a cursor onsaid interface; d) determining a new window size according to apredetermined incremental value so as to form a new window, said newwindow size being enlarged or reduced in accordance with said detecteduser input, said new window having newly positioned enlarge and reduceicons; e) determining new data that is to be located in said new window;f) attaching said cursor to said selected and newly positioned icon soas to form a newly positioned cursor; g) displaying said new window andsaid new data located therein and said newly positioned cursor on saidinterface.
 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step ofdetermining if said user input is continuous, wherein if said user inputis continuous then repeating steps d) - g) until said user inputterminates or until said new window reaches a predetermined maximum sizeor a predetermine minimum size.
 12. A data processing system,comprising:a) interface means for displaying information from saidsystem to a user; means for displaying said information on saidinterface means, said means for displaying said information beingconnected to said interface means, aid information being displayed onsaid interface means comprising a window and data located inside of saidwindow, said information also including an enlarge icon and a reduceicon; c) means for detecting a user input for changing the size of saidwindow, said input comprising a first selection of said enlarge icon, asecond secretion of said enlarge icon, a first selection of said reduceicon and a second selection of said reduce icon; d) means foridentifying said detected user input as being one of said first andsecond selections of said enlarge icon and said first and secondselections of said reduce icon; e) means for determining a new windowsize according to said detected user input, said means for determining anew window size comprising means for respectively enlarging or reducingsaid window according to a predetermined incremental value which isrespectively responsive to said first selection of said enlarge icon andto said first selection of said reduce icon, and also comprising meansfor respectively enlarging or reducing said window according to apredetermined maximum or minimum size which is respectively responsiveto said second selection of said enlarge icon and to said secondselection of said reduce icon, said incremental value beingpredetermined such that said new window size undergoes plural incrementsof said incremental value to obtain either said maximum or said minimumsize, said means for determining a new window size being connected tosaid means for detecting said input and to said means for displayingsaid information such that a new window in accordance with a new windowsize is displayed on said interface means.
 13. A data processing system,comprising:a) interface means for displaying information from saidsystem to a user; b) means for displaying said information on saidinterface means, said means for displaying said information beingconnected to said interface means, said information being displayed onsaid interface means comprising a window and data located inside of saidwindow, said information also including an enlarge icon and a reduceicon; c) means for detecting a user input for changing the size of saidwindow, said input comprising a selection of either said enlarge icon orsaid reduce icon by a cursor on said interface means; d) means fordetermining a new window size according to a predetermined incrementalvalue, said new window size being enlarged or reduced in accordance withsaid detected user input, said means for determining a new window sizedetermining new positions of said enlarge and reduce icons on saidinterface means and determining a new position of said cursor so as toattach said cursor to said selected and newly positioned icon on saidinterface means, said means for determining a new window size beingconnected to said means for detecting said input and to said means fordisplaying said information such that a new window in accordance withsaid new window size is displayed on said interface means.
 14. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining if saiduser input is continuous, wherein if said user input is continuous thenrepeating steps e) - g) until said user input terminates or until saidnew window reaches a predetermined maximum size or said predeterminedminimum size.
 15. The method of claim 1 wherein said input is obtainedby a cursor being positioned on one of said icons on said interface andsaid new window has newly positioned enlarge and reduce icons, furthercomprising the steps of:a) attaching said cursor to said selected andnewly positioned icon so as to form a newly positioned cursor; b)displaying the newly positioned cursor on the interface along with thenew window and new data located therein.
 16. The data processing meansof claim 12, wherein said input is obtained by a cursor being positionedon one of said icons on said interface means, said means for determininga new window size also being for determining new positions of saidenlarge and reduce icons on the interface means and determining a newposition of said cursor so as to attach said cursor to said selected andnewly positioned icon on said interface means.
 17. The data processingmeans of claim 13, wherein said input is obtained by a cursor beingpositioned on one of said icons on said interface means, said means fordetermining a new window size also being for determining new positionsof said enlarge and reduce icons on the interface means and determininga new position of said cursor so as to attach said cursor to saidselected and newly positioned icon on said interface means.